CINCINNATI — Once the hub of meatpacking in the city of Cincinnati, the Camp Washington neighborhood, is now known for its growing art scene, the locally-famous Camp Washington Chili and whistling echo from the nearby train yard.
Another look around the neighborhood and visitors might spot a number of places offering a free bite to eat. Across from the Wave Pool Gallery, there’s the free fridge project. Through the Welcome Project, there’s a weekly free lunch and a pop-up produce stand. What won’t be found is a grocery store.
What You Need To Know
- Camp Washington opened its first farmers market July 7
- The neighborhood is a food desert, lacking grocery stores and other fresh food options
- The market is a partnership between CWURC and Wave Pool
- The groups hope the market spurs improved food access and economic growth for the entire neighborhood
Camp Washington is a food desert, an area lacking easy access to fresh food, with the nearest full-service store well out of walking distance for anyone without reliable transportation.
Camp Washington Urban Revitalization Corporation, the development arm of the neighborhood, has been working in collaboration with groups like Wave Pool to help fill that gap. Sidney Nation, executive director of Wave Pool Gallery, considers the efforts a big help, but not a complete solution.
“It’s a way to get food access into the community,” she said. “Free access.”
Sidney Nation fills the pantry attached to Camp Washington’s free fridge. (Michelle Alfini/Spectrum News 1)
In the past few years, though, she’s noticed the demand rising for something to support the entire neighborhood and bring more businesses and entrepreneurs into Camp Washington.
Nation began working to organize and launch a local farmers’s market.
“It will start out small,” she said. “We have nine vendors so far, but we hope it grows as word gets out.”
Another partnership between CWURC and Wave Pool, the market will run every Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. throughout the summer, starting July 7. Nation said vendors can commit from week to week, so there’s little barrier to entry for burgeoning farmers and crafters.
“The farmer’s market will provide that resource and really just provide that extra step and level to fruit and produce,” she said.
Wave Pool hosts a free weekly lunch through its Welcome Project. (Michelle Alfini/Spectrum News 1)
Ultimately, Nation considers the farmer’s market a step forward in CWURC’s efforts to make the neighborhood a more livable, beautiful and economically vibrant place, inspiring further growth in coming years.
“That is one of the biggest things we can say is that we are working to improve our neighborhood to better support the residents that are here and the residents that are coming into our neighborhood,” she said.
The Hamilton County Nonprofit relief funds and American Heart Association funds the Camp Washington Farmers.
